6:24am Tuesday 13th May 2008
By Jon Austin
LABOUR councillors have welcomed the High Court decision to quash Basildon Council's £1.9million bid to evict travellers from illegal sites.
Basildon Labour group described the result, which has halted the eviction of 86 familes from Dale Farm, Crays Hill, and 15 from Hovefields, Wickford, as "common sense".
The comments came as up to 40 MPs of all parties agreed to sign a letter calling on the council to stop pursuing evictions.
The pledge was made at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform held in Westminster.
On Friday the judge ordered no evictions take place until the welfare of people on the sites and the possibility of finding alternative homes have been assessed by the council.
Council leader Malcolm Buckley said the authority was considering whether to appeal.
Lynda Gordon, Labour group leader, said: "This is not only about enforcing planning law, but about treating people with genuine needs fairly and with compassion.
"I hope the judgement acts as a wake up call and the Tories will seriously reconsider their position and seek a realistic solution to the problem that addresses the concerns and worries of the travellers, settled community and council."
Meanwhile, Grattan Puxon, a lead campaigner for the travellers, said the council has told him it will be unable to attend a proposed eviction protocol meeting today in Brentwood.
Council 'not racist'
COUNCIL leader Malcolm Buckley has welcomed the fact the judge found no "racism" in the authority's eviction bid.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission took part in the case alongside travellers, and argued the council's stance was "direct discrimination" against gipsies.
It also claimed the council failed to properly consider the needs of disabled people and women on the sites.
The commission's involvement led campaigners to accuse the council of racism.
However, Judge Mr Justice Andrew Collins said he found no direct discrimination and decided against most of the commission's submissions.
Mr Buckley said: "I am pleased the judge found no evidence of discrimination. The judge commented on the commission taking a whole day in court and said he was minded to charge it costs."
Vicky Burton, spokeswoman for the commission, said: "The judge said he would have preferred written, rather than oral submissions, but we believe he gave weight to the arguments and we have not been awarded any costs."
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